MPH with my BSN

Nurses Career Support

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Specializes in NICU.

Hello all!

I am seeking some advice. I graduated with my BSN this past May and I am already itching to go back to school. Ive been working in a NICU since graduating and have already learned so much. I have found passion for wanting to help pregnant women and to get more into the prevention side of healthcare. Do you think that an MPH is the best way to achieve this goal? Also, has anyone gone to school full time while working part time as a nurse and been financially stable? I would like to go back to school full time and work part time but Im afraid I wont be able to pay rent and other bill. On top of all the student loans.

Thank you in advance for the advice:)

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Before making a commitment to any particular educational pathway, I encourage you to investigate the structure & functions of your local health department to see how various disciplines are involved. There is quite a bit of local variability in how preventative services are managed. You may discover that there are clinic jobs available for you with your current credentials. Many times, there is also a lot of service crossover with the (tax funded) public hospital - so you may want to check out the jobs available in that setting.

Based on what's happening in US healthcare, I think that there is a very bright future for nurses who are interested in population health management.... in this case, lower income maternal-child services. Quite a few "experts" are predicting a significant increase in NP-managed ambulatory services. Best of luck to you on your career advancement.

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Specializes in GENERAL.

OP,

In my experience I have never met a MPH/BSN.

Usually one or the other with concentrations on different aspects of epidemiological research that often compliment each other but seem mutually exclusive nonetheless.

From a practical standpoint, the MPH might just be a vanity play or love of learning endeavour on your part.

With that said, if you've got a plan that you feel may create a synergistic increased marketability for you, cast your fate to the wind and go for it.

But it's got to make sense I think in dollars and cents no matter what your motivations may be.

Do the investigative leg work and know that epidemiolgy is controlled by the ID physicians.

Most others play supporting roles for which they may be recognized or not in published studies.

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